“Brent prices pushed higher at the end of the week following positive economic data released from China, the US, the eurozone and the UK,” analyst Lucy Sidebotham at British-based energy consultancy Inenco said.

“This showed the global economy to be recovering and could point towards higher oil demand,” she said.

However, traders were worried that the Egyptian unrest could hit crude shipments through the Suez Canal and Sumed Pipeline, which provide a link between Europe and oil producers in the Gulf. Further oil price support stemmed from supply outages in Libya.

By Friday on London’s Intercontinental Exchange, Brent North Sea crude for delivery in October advanced to US$111.06 a barrel compared with US$110.01 a week earlier.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate or light sweet crude for September eased to US$106.20 a barrel, from US$107.59.

“We continue to think the backdrop for commodities in general, and industrial metals in particular, will be very challenging,” Capital Economics analyst Ross Strachan said, adding: “China’s rebound has been largely built on a rapid expansion of credit, so it is unlikely to be sustained.”

By Friday on the London Metal Exchange, copper for delivery in three months declined to US$7,335 a tonne from US$7,381 a week earlier.

Three-month aluminum slid to US$1,885 a tonne from US$1,927.

Three-month lead fell to US$2,214 a tonne from US$2,234, while three-month tin firmed to US$21,919 a tonne from US$21,800.

COFFEE: Coffee prices dived on the back of abundant supplies and slumping currencies in emerging market producer nations.

Arabica coffee sank to US$1.1635 per pound, which was the lowest level since July 2009.

“Besides the prospect of plentiful supply, the collapse of the currencies of key producer countries is weighing on prices,” Commerzbank analysts said.